Age Level:
Students of all ages and all fitness levels are welcome! We may organize two sections of this program based on the age distribution of the students who register. 2 students minimum to run the program.
Mindful Fitness Club
Location:
Small group format meeting in person at park(s) in Westchester County
Length:
Six weeks
Schedule:
The duration of this program is six weeks (1x/week meeting frequency). Session options are below:
- Tuesdays: 10AM or 5PM
- Wednesdays: 10AM or 5PM
- Thursdays: 10AM or 5PM
Pricing:
$500 Total, for six 75-minute sessions
Description:
This six-week club is designed to help children develop skills to couple mindfulness with exercise. Mindful practices and physical exercise are proven tools in improving cognitive function, including executive functioning and social emotional development. The two domains easily work off of each other through the guided instruction of the club’s coach. Fitness practices such as active and dynamic stretching, balance, speed, agility, and quickness require components of mindfulness such as, visualization techniques, improved posture, concentration, mindful breathing, and mental resilience. Our goal is to provide students with the foundational techniques to pair these two beneficial practices independently, which will guide new healthy practices and effective habit formation during the school year. Led by one of our expert fitness certified coaches, each weekly session will focus on selected skills associated with exercise and mindfulness.
Course Structure:
Week 1:
Ice-breaker- “get to know each other” games, mindful observations with our senses, learning the different types of stretching (static, active and dynamic), and fitness games.
Week 2:
Mindful walk and jog warm-up, balance and stability exercises, mindful breathing techniques, reflex games with mindful listening, and intro to yoga poses for improved posture.
Week 3:
Mindful walk and jog warm-up, active and dynamic stretching with mindful breathing, quickness and agility obstacle course, and exercise visualization techniques.
Week 4:
Balance and stability warm-up, reflex games, circuit training with plyometrics, mindful observations in nature, and fitness game.
Week 5:
Balance and stability warm-up, mindful breathing techniques, understanding different cardio options, quickness and agility game, and static stretching.
Week 6:
Mindful walk and jog warm-up, reflex games, circuit training with plyometrics, mindful breathing practice, and fitness game.
Mindfulness Fitness Club Course Instructor: Peter Halligan, MS
Peter Halligan earned a Bachelor’s degree in childhood education from The College of Saint Rose and Master’s degree in special education from Touro College. He has been working with children in educational settings since 2007. Certified by the State of New York to teach both general education grades K-6 and students with disabilities grades K-6, he supports students with unique learning profiles while collaborating with school psychologists, counselors, social workers, and families. Peter has extensive experience creating and implementing interventions related to executive functioning skills such as planning, prioritization, organization, task initiation, time management, and sustained attention. As a member of the school district’s building leadership team, he works to create social emotional programs for students that will foster interpersonal skills and build a sense of community. Peter is also a certified fitness instructor through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has experience coaching different middle school and high school sports throughout his career.
